Confused About Giving Tuesday? NJ-Based Charity Navigator Can Help

Yesterday I wrote about the "psychic benefits" of giving thanks.  Well since today is #GivingTuesday, let's talk about the psychic benefit as well as the  tangible benefits of donating to charity.

It really doesn't need much elaboration.  It feels good to give, even just a little something.  And for people who are struggling, it feels great to receive.  Whether your donation helps buy warm coats for kids or helps feed a local family, financial gifts are appreciated.  There's a bonus benefit to you, the donor, which is a potential tax deduction.  Of course you'll want to research this or talk to your accountant because every case is different.

With so much need in the world, how do you decide who to give to?  Can you trust that your donation will be put to good use and not just pay for the organization’s administrative costs?  Charity Navigator is a good resource.  It’s a New Jersey-based organization whose website enables us to find charities all over the world.  They report on Financial Practices, Accountability and Transparency.

They've made it easy to find places to contribute to.  Fill in your town and state and indicate what type of organization you're interested in (school, foundation, nonprofit, faith-based, etc.).  Then you'll see a list of organizations plus links to their websites.

It might be wise to spend some time on the Charity Navigator site today if you want to be part of Giving Tuesday.  Or at least check it out before the end of the calendar year if you want to factor in your charitable contributions to your tax returns.

What charity is most likely to get your support with a donation or time and/or money?